Thursday, April 30, 2009

I faced the two most difficult exams of this semester with very little amount of time for lecture and studying and couldn't believe how well I did. Yes, I did stress, but only because I wanted to do so well. Doing WELL for these test means just passing! But I did FAR beyond that. It gives me the confidence and motivation I need to keep going for the 3 Finals I am facing next week.

Other than school, I haven't been able to get a lot of other things accomplished lately. It's okay. They'll wait.

I'm learning that it's okay to say no to the things I love the most. Oh my, it is difficult. But even when you love to do something so much, there are times that you just have to stop and take care of yourself and do something different. Life is so short and we need to enjoy every moment we can. Many times I feel selfish when I want to do something fun for me. But not this week. I'm trying things differently and seeing a different perspective. Hopefully, it will make a difference in other places as well.

I haven't felt well this week. Probably the strain of school. Either way, it has called for a doctors visit today. It's so amazing to me that when we can't tell ourselves something is wrong, our bodies will do it for us. For 3 weeks, I've been ignoring what it is trying to say, and this week, it told me no more. In the future, I think it may be a good idea to be a better LISTENER when it's trying to tell you something. :o) (silly nurses.....they are the worst patients! Sheesh)

I'm excited to see what God has in store for me next week. He bet he spends lots of time smiling when we have some great "AH HA!!!" moments in life.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Well, there's a statement I wouldn't have said a year ago. I sit here and eat a piece of ice cream pie and love it. I haven't lost any weight since January and feel 100% healthy. Mind, Body, & Soul.

I would love to lose a little more for the "swimsuit season" but it's okay if I don't. I'll be content where I am. Losing is easy if done the wrong way. It is a challenge to do it the healthy way.

Choosing wise choices in life are some of the best rewards ever! Not with just food and exercise, but in everything we do. Doing things the wrong way, makes life difficult. Embracing life's challanges, makes it all more rewarding!

Monday, April 20, 2009

This semester is wrapping up for me. What does that mean? Test, Test and more test. I can't believe the amount of test I have and the material they have yet to cover in the next couple of weeks. It's mind blowing. I have a test tomorrow, and Wednesday. Then two test on the same day next Wednesday, and honestly wonder when it will end. Well, I know the actual date, but the amount of information I must memorize and retain between now and then is overwhelming.

Matthew 6:33-34 says: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

It's a verse we hear all the time but sometimes forget to do first. I get so bogged down with the day to day duties of life, kids, work, school, marriage, that I tend to forget to seek what I've been directed to.

I'm only human. I know I'm not the only one who forgets. Especially in times like right now. I'm overwhelmed. But I don't want to feel overwhelmed. I want to know that I have no worries. There are no worries except for those that I create. If I haven't studied enough, then that's my fault. I know what I need to get the job done, I just have to lay everything down.

I'm at that point in the semester when I hear myself and my body saying "I can't do it all". But there is always a time in every semester that you can find me saying that. :o) I don't have much longer to go. I am less than 3 weeks away from finishing another semester. It won't be my last. And I can guarantee you now, it will NOT be my hardest. I am the strongest person I know because I believe in what the power of God can do in my life. Not sure I could have made it this far without him. Only 19 more days until it's over. I'm now counting.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Every year we incubate eggs and the week of easter, we have chickens! Our fist chick is due to hatch tomorrow, ON EASTER! It's nice that we can plan it that way. I like how the hatching of the eggs symbolizes new life. We teach that the egg also is a symbol of the tomb, which Christ emerged when he arose again. The chick, hatching out of the egg, symbolizes new life or re-birth. One should hatch tomorrow. The rest should hatch on Tuesday. Our Children's minister....will be very happy.

One thing about this time of year are the Easter Lillies. They symbolize the purity of Jesus. They bloom in the spring and also symbolize new life and the resurrection of Christ. I love this because Chad and I got married a week before Easter 15 years ago and our flowes were white Easter lillies. I loved their meaning and how we can apply that to our lives.

There are a TON of symbols for Easter. Even more obvious ones than I have mentioned. (The Cross, Eggs, Bunnies, Candy, etc.) What do they mean to you?

Monday, April 06, 2009

James 3:1-18 (Message)

Don't be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.

A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!

My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?

Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.

Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others.

It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced.

You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

Saturday, April 04, 2009

Things are going better. My dad is home from the hospital. He's sportin the pirate eye patch for all the grandkids. They love it, and he loves going around acting like a pirate and making pirate noises. Gotta love my family.

I'm getting older. So that means, I'm going to see the aging factor start appearing in my family and especially with my parents. Emotionally that is really difficult to see. Especially when both of them have pains on the same day and you don't know what direction to turn.

For me, I will try my best to enjoy now. That has been my goal and I want to make sure it happens.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

So many things happened today that just leaves me sitting here wondering "Can I wake up and you tell me it's all a joke?"

But you can't. It's so hard at times when life hits us when we are on a good run. Life caught up with me today and I wasn't prepared. But the good news is, God is! I've shed a lot of tears today. Still while I'm typing. But again, it's okay. It's in these tears that causes me to make decisions that I've been avoiding. So in a way, it's all a bit refreshing.

I love my life. I love all I get to do in it. I feel like one of the most blessed people I know. I'm very fortunate to be me. Hardships just come with the territory. I love every time I screw up! It gives me a chance to start over again.

Things could be worse: My dad is sick......but he's still with us. My mom has some pain...but it's treatable. My school is hard..........but I will graduate. My kids....are kids...........but at least I have them. My friend has heartache..........but God will heal it. My life seems overwhelming.........but I'm not alone. My house hasn't sold...................but at least I have one. My new job is getting ready to start.....again....at least I have one. My finances are tight......................but I'm not broke. I'm am always so tired........................but at least I woke up.

There are so many things I could list. You just have to look at the brighter side. Sure, I'll cry! I'm a girl! It's what we do! But I choose NOT to have a pity party.

So many times in life we become melancholy and choose to respond the wrong way. 2008was a year filled with a self pity party that I worked hard to get out of so I choose not to ever, EVER, let that happen to me again. Even with my bad day today. I'm going to screw up! I'm going to make the wrong choices! I'm going to sin! I'm going to fail! I'm going, I'm going, I'm going......to try my best to be the child that God created me to be and live a life according to His plan....and not my own.

In 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 says "Godly sadness causes us to turn away from our sins and be saved. And we are certainly not sorry about that! But worldly sadness brings death. Look at what that godly sadness has produced in you. You are working hard to clear yourselves. You are angry and alarmed. You are longing to see me. You are concerned. You are ready to make sure that the right thing is done. In every way you have proved that you are not guilty in that matter."

I love the Bible. It makes you think about so much. And when you're down, it has just the right thing to pick you up. Is there really a need for any other book?